XC Countdown 2024: Ellis Wood (Deering High School)

2024 Maine XC Preview

Sep 09, 2024

#3 Ellis Wood Deering

Class of 2026

2023 Results

Class A State Meet 5th place (16:15.37)
Class A Southern Regional 3rd place (16:53.78)
Festival of Champions 16th place (16:21.59)
New England Championship 76th place (16:41.82)

Wood had an excellent sophomore season that saw him finish fifth in the Class A state meet. Ellis has opened his 2024 season with a pair of victories including a new 5k personal best last Friday at Scarborough of 16:12. Wood put together his best summer of training and is coming off an outdoor track season that saw him run a personal best of 4:28.60 and 9:36.35. He finished second in Class A 3200m at states. Ellis will be one of the top runners in the state this fall and one of a select few capable of winning the individual title come November,

Getting to Know Ellis

How has your summer training gone? Approximately how many miles have you logged?

Summer training has gone pretty well. I've been slowly building up my mileage and trying to prevent injury while dealing with Achilles tendonitis that has carried over from the outdoor track season (but I haven't been doing enough strength work). I have been doing more mileage than I have ever done in the past (currently 40 miles a week or so) so I am partially exploring and seeing how my body responds to a higher training load and different types of workouts. My long runs have been feeling significantly better than they ever have. In total, I have ran somewhere around 215 miles this summer

What are you looking forward to during the 2024 XC season?

I am looking forward to running my best and having fun. Deering has much stronger teams than we had last year and in the past so I hope that I can contribute to it and grow alongside the team. Also looking forward to hopefully getting PRs. I'm also looking forward to racing against Henri Rivard and other competitors that I have run against in previous seasons.

What are your goals for the season?

I want the Deering (boys team at least) to make it to states and improve. I am also hoping to podium or even win the state meet.

Biggest takeaway from the 2023 XC Season?

Trust the process and the coaches. Enjoy running, racing, and friendly rivalries. Winning isn't the most important thing.

What's the best piece of advice you've gained from your coaches?

Keep the long term picture in mind.

Favorite XC Course?

Twin Brook

Starbucks, Aroma Joe's or Dunkin?

Dunkin. But I don't drink coffee.

What spikes do you race in?

Dragonfly XC